Architectural Bronze
Architectural Bronze Suppliers
At Prestige Metal Supplies, we stock a range of C38500 Architectural bronze materials suitable for all industrial requirements. Our alloy stock includes a wide range of bronze stock for building and construction uses including leaded bronze, aluminium bronze and phosphor bronze in various forms for your convenience with quick turnaround times.
C38500
Architectural bronze, also known as C38500, C385 or C38000, is used in both interior and exterior design applications and is commonly used for window and door bronze casements as well as industrial hardware. Contrary to its name, C385 belongs to the brass family rather than bronze but the interchangeable use of the terms stems from their shared metal classification – copper. These two metals have distinct differences in their chemical composition and properties which set them apart.
This decorative metal has a rich history dating back centuries, with its use in architecture and design spanning various civilizations. In ancient times, the Egyptians and Greeks utilised bronze alloys for their aesthetic finishes in temples, statues, and monumental structures. Today it is still widely used in contemporary construction and design projects, contributing to the creation of aesthetically pleasing and durable elements such as ornamental features, exterior cladding, and various structural details.
The chemical composition of C38500 typically includes the following – Copper(Cu) 55% to 65%, lead (Pb) 2.3% to 3.5% and iron (Fe) a maximum of 0.35% and small amounts of zinc. C38000 is composed of 55-60% copper (Cu), 1.5-2.5% lead, 0.30% tin, 0.50% aluminium and 0.35% iron as well as trace quantities of other elements.
Fabrication Properties
C38500 has an excellent capacity for being hot-formed making it ideal for soldering. It has a machinability rating of 90 and is good for brazing and fair butt welding capabilities. C38500 has a poor capacity for cold forming and is not recommended for spot welding, seam welding, arc welding or Oxyacetylene welding. The common fabrication processes for this material include hot forging and pressing, hot forming and bending as well as machining.
The long-term stability and strength of this ornamental metal are due to its superior corrosion resistance while its physical appeal is enhanced over time due to the natural patination process. This makes it the perfect choice for building work and industrial applications where a hard-wearing architectural metal is required.
Architectural Bronze Stock
Our stock is available in architectural bronze sheets which range in thickness from 0.15mm up to 2.5mm thick and comes in three standard sizes:
- 2000mm x 300mm
- 2000mm x 1000mm
- 3000mm x 1000mm
We also supply C385 in rod form and our in-house sawing services mean we cater to your specific size requirements. Our other in-house services include chemical patination for high-end project specifications as well as a range of other finishes.
Leaded Bronze Supply
Part of our meal alloy supply includes leaded bronze for architecture. This metal provides a good balance of corrosion resistance and excellent machining qualities making it ideal for items such as pressure-tight pump and valve components and many more general engineering applications.
Aluminium Bronze Supply
Often used in marine or subsea environments, our aluminium bronze is incredibly tarnish-resistant with exceptional weight-bearing qualities and is often used in the production of inert gas fans for oil tankers as well as bearings, valve spindles and pump shafts.
Phosphor Bronze Supply
Offering good weldability and excellent soldering properties, our supply of phosphorus bronze is often chosen for its superior plating and spring properties. We stock a wide range of sizes and forms of phosphor bronze as part of our range.
Prestige Metal Supplies offer a number of bronze alloys to suit your needs with an impressive stock range to fit any project. Get in touch now for a quote to fit any requirements or needs.